Sewing-machine



(No Model.) 4 Smetssheet 1. A; A. CUMING. SEWING MACHINE.

No. 485,176. Patented Nov. l, 1892.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

A. A. CUMING. SEWING MACHINE.

No. 485,176. Patented Nov. l, 1892.

a im a 12 a? wf -sal m? (No Model.) I 4 sheetssheen 3. A. A. GUMING.

SEWING MACHINE.

No. 485,176. Patented Nov. 1, 1892.

wr/asses. Zaznow immagJ/m @M (No Model.) 4Sheets-Sheet 4. A A CUMINGSEWING MACHINE.

No. 485,176. Patented Nov. l, 1892.

@gered 05. Cunt/rg 5gg/My@ f77 mega Urt-WED STATES PATENT EErcE.

ALFRED A. CUMING, OF HINGHAM, MASSACHUSETTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 485,176, dated November1, 1892. Application filed January 11, 1892. Serial No.`417,669. (Nomodel.)

T0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALFRED A. CUMING, ofIlingham, county of Plymouth, State of Massachusetts, have invented anImprovement in Sewing-Machines,of which the following description, inconnection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, likeletters and figures on the drawings representing like parts.

The machine herein to be described has been devised for the productionof a stitch substantially as described in United States Patent No.413,647, granted to me October 29, 1889. The stitch referred to iscomposed of three threads, one at one and two at the other side or faceof the material. For the mechanical production of said three-threadedstitch I have devised an organization comprehending an eye-pointedpenetrating-needle to carry a thread through the material, supported,preferably, upon a horn, a looper carrying a second thread and workingin the arc of a circle about a substantially-vertical pivot, said looperentering and pulling aloop of looper-thread in the loop ofneedle-thread, an under or third thread-carrier resembling a needle andactuated to enter the loop of looper-thread, and a thread-catcher toenter and hold the loop of third thread after the latter has been passedthrough the loop of looper-thread. As the stitch is drawn up, set, andfinished the loop of needle-thread acts to draw into the material adoubled part of the looper-thread, together with a doubled part of thethird thread, the loop of third thread, not itself locked by the passageof another thread through it, serving by being bent through andaboutabight of thelooperthread to keep the latter in the loop ofneedle-thread. The stitch referred to shows at one side staple-likestitches from one thread and at its other side staple-like stitches fromtwo threads, the latter in practice being of the same or diiferent sizesor materials. The stitch when in the material resemblesalockstitch, andwhile it has all the advantages of a lock-stitch it is stronger andpossesses greater elasticity, the loops of thread filling the hole madeby the awl to a greater extent than is possible with a lock or shuttlestitch or with an ordinary chain-stitch, and consequently the stitch isespecially advantageous enable the looper referred to to work equallywell with whatever diametered needle is employed I have mounted thelooper-pivot on a feeler-block, which prior to the entrance of thelooper into the loop of needle-thread feels' for and takes a bearing inthe needle then in the material, the feeler feeling the needle below thework-support. In this Way the center of motion of the looper is alwayscorrect, whatever the diameter of the needle.

Prior to myinvention l am aware that three threads have been used in astitch; but I am not aware that any machine has ever had below thecloth-support and co-operating with an eye-pointed thread-carryingpenetratingneedle two independently-actuated threadcarriers, such as thelooper and needle referred to, the former leaving a loop in the loop ofneedle-thread and the latter leaving an unlocked loop in a loop oflooper-thread, but not being itself locked.

This invention in sewing-machines does not seek to cover two eye-pointedthreadfcarryin g needles above the material and a thread-carrying looperbelow the material to, by its thread, engage and lock the loops ofneedle-thread and in turn have its loop locked by the needlc-thread, assuch devices have been used for buttonhole and overseaming work, (seeUnited States Patent No. 25,692, October et, 1859,) the stitch madeshowing threads enchained at the lower' side of4 the material. I am alsoaware that two diagonally-placed eyepointed thread-carrying needles havepenetrated the material from its upper side one after the other forsuccessive stitches, and that a third needle, also penetrating the upperside of the material and having a hook, has taken the thread from eachof said nee-` dles in succession and drawn loops thereof up through thematerial, enchaining a loop of thread taken from one needle with a loopof thread taken from the other needle, the

chain being between the parallel rows of stitches made by theeye-pointed needles, as in United States Patent No. 250,990.

' Figure l in right-hand side elevation repre- IOO sents asewing-machine embodying my invention, the feeding-sleeve beingrepresented as broken out to illustrate its co-operation with theneedle-bar; Fig. l, a detail of part of the needle-bar and needle. Fig.2 is a left-hand side elevation thereof. Fig. 2a shows the oscillatingyokevdetached. Fig. 3 is a rear end elevation with the framework brokenaway,

so as to show the operative parts otherwise concealed by the framework.Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the cam B5. Fig. 5 is a side elevation ofthe cam G', Fig. 6, an enlarged view of part of the work support or horncontaining the stitch-forming devices which co-operate with theeye-pointed needle partially shown directly above it. Figs. 'Z--and Sshow different positions of the stitch-forming devices in the productionof the stitch'. Figs. 9 and 10 are details to be referred to, Fig. lObeing an under side view of some of the parts shown in Fig. 9.

The framework consists, essentially, of a base or column A,'having anoverhanging neck or arm A2, to the forward end of which is adjustablycon nected, by bolts or set-screws A3, a carriage A4, in the front endof which are suitableebearings for the needle-bar A5, it having at itslower end a suitable needle A6. Loosening the bolts or screws A3, theirshanks being of less diameter than the holes of the overhanging arm`through which they are extended, enables the needle bar and needle to beadjusted to place the latter correctly with relation to the throat ofthe worksupport.

The framework referred to has suitable bearings for the main shaft B ofthe machine, it having, as shown, arsuitable iiy or drive Ywheel YB" anda series of cams, to be described,

which operate the various parts of the machine. In this present instanceof my invention the work-support A7 is made in the shape of a horn, thesaid work-support being attached to the framework by suitable screws A8.

Heretofore great difficulty has been experienced in attempts to use anarrow smallended horn` in connection with a sewing-machine making astitch with more than a single thread; but by experiment I have devisedstitch forming devices, which I shall presently describe, which take upbut very little room, are capable of being operated within the practicallimitations of the tip of a horn, leaving the latter `of such small sizeas to readily reach any part of the interior of a shoe which is to bestitched.

The needle-bar A5 in the present embodiment of my invention has at oneside a loose block d, (represented by dotted lines in Fig. 2 and'by fulllines in Fig. 1,) which block is embraced by theV slotted end of aneedle-baractuating lever ]32, pivoted at B3, and having at itsother enda suitable roller or other stud a,which enters a groove B4 in a cam B5,fast on the shaft B, the said cam having at its opposite side a grooveB6, (see Fig. 4,) in which enters a roller or other stud a?, (shown bydotted lines in Fig. 2,) attached to one end ofV a looper-actuatinglever 0.3, having its fulcrum at a4 and connected by a link a5 with alever a, to be described. The cam B5 has a roller or other stud b,(shown by dottedlines, Fig. 2,) which acts on a lever B7, pivoted at BSand connected'in suitable manner, as by a link B9, with a foot-liftinglever B10 (represented as pivoted at B12) on a suitable stand. Thefoot-lifting lever B10 has at its outer end a swivel-post C, to which isadj ustably connected by a screw C a stud C2, which by a link C3 isattached in suitable manner to the upper end of the foot-carrying barC4, the connection shown in the present instance being by a loop injthelower end of theY link, which embraces a set-screw of a collar fast uponthe said bar C4 by a set-screw.

The feed-carrying bar is extended through suitable bearings of a frameC5, pivoted at CG upper and lower ends of the outer portion of thecarriage A4, so that the said oscillating yoke may be moved about theneedle-bar in any direction, the pivot C6, referred to, beingsubstantiallyin line with the longitudinal center of the needle-bar, theyoke referred to being capable of being rotated partially to the rightor left about the' needle-bar, according to the direction it is desiredto feed the material by or through the action of the foot C8 at thelower end of the bar C4. One of the bearings for the bar C4 is marked 2,and said bar is surrounded by a strong spring 3, one end of which restsagainst the said bearing and its :other end against an adjustable.col-Vlar 4 on the bar, the spring acting normally to keep the foot down uponthe material.

The upper end of the frame C5 has a feedregulating device,(shown as ascrew a5,)the inner end of which or a block at the said inner endcontacts with a feed-cone D, and by the said cone the said frame C5 iscaused to vibrate in one or another direction when the foot is risingupon the material to thus feed the said material on the horn, theoperator controlling the direction of feed by turning the yoke andframeC5 more or less about the longitudinal center of the bearing for theneedle-bar.

The feeding-cone is represented as a sleeve having a cam-shaped orbeveled lower end d and a closed upper end d, the sleeve deriving itsvertical movements by the contact of the upper end of t-he needle-barwith the said cap d, the sleeve being guided in its vertical movementsby a portion of the bearing through which the needle-bar Works.

The frame C5 has a beveled shoulder r, against which the beveled part cZ of the feeding-sleeve acts as the sleeve is lifted, the screw a5,referred to, contacting with the body of the sleeve as the latterdescends, and by turning the screw in or out the feed may be shortenedor lengthened. It is obvious ICO that the foot and bar perform not onlythe functions of a presser foot and bar, but also of a feed foot andbar.

In the feeding apparatus above described the frame C5 is free to vibrateby or through the action of the feeding-cone about a centersubstantially in line with the longitudinal center of the needle-bar, asthereby when the foot is moved to feed the material the spring also actsto keep the foot down upon the material and the feed of the material isalways toward the needle, or from the operator toward the needle, or thefeed is toward the throat in the work-support. This feeding mechanism,however, is not hereinclaimed, but forms subject-matter of anotherapplication, Serial No. 417,659. The needle is supplied with a thread 5,taken from a suitable spool or support and led, preferably, firstthrough a guide 6, thence about a suitable tension device 7, which maybe a pulley, thence through a guide 8 and a take-up 9, thence through asuitable guide 10 and through a slot in the needle-bar, (see Fig. 1a,where the lower end of the needle-bar is represented as enlarged,) andthen through the Veye of the needle.

The take-np device 9 is represented as a rod guided at 12 in a suitableloop or bearing `and extended through a swivel-block 13, (see Fig. 1,)attached to the upper end of a lever 14,pivoted at l5, and having asuitable roller or other stud, which enters a cam-groove (the shape ofwhich is best shown in Fig. 1) in a cam F., fast on the shaft B. Theshaft has B fast upon ittwocamsGH. The cam G (see Fig. 5) has a grooveG', which receives a roller or other stud projecting from onearmofalever G2, having its fulcrum upon the rod a4, the opposite end of thesaid lever being attached by a suitable link or connection, as G3, toone end of a thread-carrier G4, which carries the third thread marked t.In order to adjust the position of the thread-carrier G4 correctly withrelation to the other parts, it is preferred to and the junction of theconnection G3 with the lever G2 is made in an adjustable manner, as by asmall plate or block G6, it having a slot through which is extended asuitable screw 18. The cam H has in its inner side a groove, the shapeof which is best shown by the dotted lines H in Fig. 2, said groovereceiving a roller or other stud h at the upper end of a lever H2,having its fulcrum on the rod a4, the opposite end of the said leverbeing adjustably joined, as described, with relation to the lever G2with a connection H3, operatively joined with the loop detainer orholder h', pivoted at h2 upon the work-support or horn, the point of thesaid loop-detainer being projected upwardly, the connection beingattached to it between its fulcrum and its free end. The looper d6, theshape of which is best shown in Figs. 7 and 8, has an eye, through whichis extended a looper or second thread Z, taken from some suitable spoolor bobbin. (Not shown.) This looper has" its fulcrum upon a stud al,erected upon a feeler a", in this present instance of my inventionslotted at its under side, as atcg, to receive and be guided by suitablestuds, as d10, (represented by dotted lines in Fig. 6,) said studs orprojections guiding the said feeler in its movements. The front end 19of the feeler is so shaped or arranged as to contact with the rear sideof the needle when the latter is down through the material andpreparatory to the passage of the point of, the looper through the loopof needle-thread drawn out from the eye-pointed needle A6. A spring cl2,suitably supported in the horn or worksupport acts against a portion ofthe said feeler andV serves normally to push the feeler toward the tipof the horn, the said spring operating to move the feeler in thatdirection whenever the connection af is moved in the direction of thearrow near it win Fig. 6, preparatory to and as the looper d6 commencesto move in the direction to pass through the loop of needle-thread, themovement of the feeler, however, taking place, and the point 19 thereofcoming in Vcontact with the needle, as stated before, the point of thelooper arrives in position to enter the loop of needle-thread. Thisfeature of mounting the looper upon a movable carriage or feeler theposition of which is registered with relation to the needle preparatoryto the passage of the looperwith its thread through the loop ofneedle-thread constitutes a novel feature of my invention, and by ititis possible for the looper to properly co-operate with a needle of anyusual diameter without adjustment of parts.

Prior to my invention I am not aware that a looper of any form has everbeen mounted upon a feeler so that the pivotal point of the looper mightbe automatically put into cor rect operating position with relation to anee dle whatever may be the diameter thereof, so this part of myinvention is not limited to the exact form of devices shown. In otherwords, the employment of the feeler preceding the action of the looper'insures always the correct entrance of the looper into the loop ofneedlethread. The connection a5 in this present embodiment of myinvention is represented as a wire, one end of which is bent up andenters a slot 2l in the looper.

I will now brieiiy describe the operation of the stitch-forming devices,it being supposed that a stitch has already been made. The needle A6will be made to penetrate the material. The camgroove B6, acting on thelever A3, will start the looper forward after the needle reaches itslowest position, and at the same time the spring @12 will cause thefeeler to contact with the side of the needle and immediately thereafterthe point of the looper a6 will enter the loop of needle-thread. Theneedle A6 will penetrate the material, and by the time that the needlereaches substantiallyits lowest position the feeler, by or through theIOO action of the 'spring cl2, permitted by the cain B6, controlling thelooper a, will come against the rear side of the needle.v The looper,being then in correct position with relation to the needle, will bemoved about its fulcrum to enter the loop of needle-thread, the carrierG4 for the third thread will instantly be thrust forward through theloop of looper-thread, and the thread catcher or detainer h will riseand enter the loop of third thread, the parts being then. substantiallyas in Fig. '7. Now the carrier for the third thread starts back, leavingits loop in the loop of looper-thread and held by the thread-catcher h',and as or about as the third thread-carrier is so being retracted theneedle rises through the work, the looper retaining the loop ofneedle-thread until the eye of the needle A6 is substantially out of thework, when the looper is retracted, leaving the threads substantially asin Fig. 8. The needle now continues to rise, drawing the loop oflooper-thread yet in it and in doubled 1 form into the work, and justbefore the needle linishes its upper stroke to set the stitch andactuate the feed the loop catcher or detain er retires from theloop oflooper-thread, so that the needle as it completes and draws the loop oflooper-thread into the material Will also draw the bent or doubled endof the third thread t into the hole in the stock made by the needle.

- seam. During this operation of forming the stitch the take-up isactuated to aid in setting the stitch, and the needle-bar as it iscompleting its upward movement lifts the conical feeding-sleeve andeffects the feeding of the material for a new stitch. It will be noticedthat the foot U8 never draws the material away from the needle after astitch or draws it vfrom the needle toward the operator; but, on thecontrary, the footwhen it acts to feed the material pushes the materialfrom a circle outside the needle hole of the ma-l may be variouslymodified without departing from my invention, and it. will alsobeobvious that the shape and direction of movementof the 'actuating partsof the devices referred to, especially those contained in the` horn,would have to be modified in order to adapt the stitch-forming mechanismto a machine having a flat bed.

I claiml. A sewing-machine containing the following instrumentalities,viz: an eye-pointed thread-carrying needle to penetrate the material, awork-support, a thread-carryinglooper located below the material andco-operating with the said needle, a thread-carrier to contain andpresent a third thread, and a loopdetainer to enter and detaintemporarily the loop of third thread, whereby the latter is retained indoubled form in the loop of looperthread during the time that theneedle-bar rises to draw the loop of looper-thread into the material,substantially as described.

2.V The Work-support, a needle, and a feeler to Contact with the needle,combined with a looper having its fulcrum on said feeler and adapted toco-operate with the needle, substantially as' described.

3. The reciprocating eye-pointed needle, a thread-carrying looperadapted to put a loop of its thread through the loop of needlethread,and a third thread-carrier adapted to enter the loop of looper-thread,combined with a loop-catcher to hold the loop of third thread andcausethe latter to hold the loop of looper-thread while the said loop oflooperthread is being drawn into and concealed in the work by the loopot' needle-thread, substantially as described.

4. The horn constituting a work support, the movable carriage or feelerthereon, the circularly moving thread carrying looper having its fulcrumon the said carriage, and

an eye-pointed needle and needle-bar, combined with devices to actuatethe said needle, looper, and carriage, substantially as described.

v5. The overhanging arm, the carriage 'adjustable thereon and havingbearings for the needle bar, .the needle bar therein, its attachedneedle, means to actuate 'the needlebar, and the horn-like work-support,combined with the feeler and the circularly-movable thread-carryin glooper mounted thereon, a carrier for athird thread, and devices to movethe said feeler-looper and third threadcarrier, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALFRED A. CUMING.

Witnesses:

G. W. GREGORY, EMMA J. BENNETT.

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